Determining genetic variability of traits in backcross populations of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. Saccharata)

To understand the nature of the traits in breeding programme, knowledge on heritability, genetic advance and genetic variability are inevitable. The paramount aim of the present study was to estimate the heritability, genetic advance and genetic variability of the backcross and selfed population of sweet corn and β-carotene rich inbred combinations viz., USC1-2-3-1× UMI1230β+ and SC1107× UMI1230β+ in order to identify the plants with superior trait combinations. The study involved the recording of fourteen biometrical traits in both the cross combinations which revealed that in backcross and selfed populations, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was found to be greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) indicating the probable influence of environment in the expression of the traits evaluated. High heritability was recorded for the important trait single plant yield in both the cross combinations of BC2F2 generation. Further, high heritability and high genetic advance as percent of mean was noticed for the traits like plant height, cob length, leaf length and single plant yield under both the cross combinations of BC2F2 generation indicates the governance of additive genes in expression of these traits. Hence, selection for these traits would be effective in developing a genotype with improved yield

The Information Search

This paper in the form of story discusses a college student\u27s information search process. In this story we see Kuhlthau\u27s information search process: initiation, selection, exploration, formulation, collection, and presentation. Katie is a student who goes in search of information for her class research paper. Katie\u27s class readings, her interest and reflection on the topic, and the instructor\u27s guidance really help her to focus on the topic of her research. The librarian\u27s service is also quite helpful by providing needed and timely service. When we compare the service to Grover\u27s model of service, we see that the problem was diagnosed by two people—the instructor and the librarian. The course instructor had already provided the student feedback about narrowing the topic and the advice to refer to primary sources as well. So it was an easy diagnosis for the librarian when the student seeks the librarian\u27s help in finding primary sources. Here the librarian seemed very caring and helpful, which made the student to go back to the librarian for help

Journey to Art, Architecture and History at Thanjavur (Tanjore), South India

Uma Doraiswamy, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Bibliographic Access of WKU Libraries, shared her trip to her homeland, Thanjavur (Tanjore), South India, with her colleagues on March 28, 2017. Her talk is focused on arts, architecture, and history of Thanjavur, India

Razvoj PLS modela za brzo određivanje sadržaja proteina u pirinču upotrebom furijeove transformacije – bliska infracrvena spektroskopija

This study attempted the feasibility to use near infrared spectroscopy as a nondestructive analysis method to qualitative and quantitative assessment of rice quality of Central Warehousing Corporation, India. A PLS model were developed using rice standards of different concentrations in the near-infrared region (4.000–12.000 cm-1). The developed models ware authenticated using test validation technique. FT-NIR spectroscopy with chemometrics, using the PLS–first derivative plus vector normalization method could predict the protein content of stored rice samples accurately up to an correlation coefficient (R2) and residual predictive deviation (RPD) values were 0,98 and 7,21, respectively. The error values such as root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) and root mean square error of estimation (RMSEE) were 0,28 and 0,25, respectively, with 11 factors in the prediction model. The developed model was applied to predict protein content in rice samples within 15 seconds. The developed procedure was further validated by recovery studies by comparing with micro Kjeldahl method of protein determination. These results show that NIR spectroscopy could hold up traditional techniques in studying qualitative assessment of rice.Ovim istraživanjem je primenjena mogućnost upotrebe bliske infracrvene spektroskopije kao nedestruktivne analitičke metode za kvalitativnu i kvantitativnu procenu kvaliteta pirinča. PLS model je razvijen upotrebom pirinča sa različitim koncentracijama u bliskoj infracrvenoj oblasti (4.000–12.000 cm-1). Razvijeni modeli su provereni tehnikom validacionog testa. FT-NIR spektroskopija sa hemometrijom, korišćenjem metoda PLS-prvog derivate plus vektroske normalizacije, može predvideti sadržaj proteina uskladištenog pirinča, sa koeficijentom korelacije (R2) i rezidualnom prediktivnom devijacijom (RPD) od 0.98 i 7.21, redom. Mere greške, kao srednja kvadratna greška unakrsne validacije (RMSECV) i srednja kvadratna greška procene (RMSEE) bile su 0.28 i 0.25, redom. Razvijeni model je bio primenjen za procenu sadržaja protein u uzorku pirinča u roku od 15 sekundi. Postupak je dalje ocenjivan poređenjem sa mikro Kjeldahl metodom određivanja proteina. Ovi rezultati pokazuju da NIR spektroskopija može da podrži tradicionalne tehnike kvalitativne analize pirinča

Optimization of Pyrolysis Process Parameters for Fuel Oil Production from the Thermal Recycling of Waste Polypropylene Grocery Bags Using the Box–Behnken Design

The impact of dumping plastic waste is realized in different ecosystems of the planet. Several methods have been adopted to dispose of these wastes for energy recovery. This study, for the first time, proposed the Box–Behnken design technique to optimize the pyrolysis process parameters for fuel oil production from waste polypropylene (PP) grocery bags using a semibatch-type pyrolytic reactor. The semibatch-type pyrolytic reactor was developed and employed to produce fuel oil from waste PP grocery bags. The effect of different process parameters on fuel oil production was comprehensively analyzed using the response surface methodology (RSM) with the conjunction of the Box–Behnken design (BBD). The BBD facilitates the prediction of the response variables with respect to changes in the input variables by developing a response model. The BBD was used to optimize the process parameters, such as the reaction temperature (400–550 °C), nitrogen flow rate (5–20 mL min−1), and substrate feed rate (0.25–1.5 kg h−1), and their effect on the responses were observed. The optimum response yields of the fuel oil (89.34 %), solid residue (2.74%), and gas yield (7.92%) were obtained with an optimized temperature (481 °C), a nitrogen flow rate (13 mL min−1), and a feed rate (0.61 kg h−1). The quadratic model obtained for the fuel oil response denotes the greater R2 value (0.99). The specific gravity and calorific value of the fuel oil were found to be 0.787 and 45.42 MJ kg−1, respectively. The fuel oil had higher research octane number (RON) (100.0 min) and motor octane number (MON) (85.1 min) values. These characteristics of the fuel oil were matched with conventional petroleum fuels. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were used to analyze the fuel oil, and the results revealed that the fuel oil was enriched with different hydrocarbons, namely, alkane (paraffins) and alkene (olefins), in the carbon range of C4–C20. These results, and also the fractional distillation of the fuel oil, show the presence of petroleum-range hydrocarbons in the waste PP fuel oil

A new dawn for coriander seeds: Overcoming dormancy through innovative and comprehensive enhancement techniques

Coriandrum sativum an important spice exhibits lower seed germination. That may be due to phenolic compounds that induce dormancy in seeds. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive seed enhancement technique to overcome dormancy and improve germination and seedling growth. Seeds were subjected to GC-MS analysis to identify bioactive components. Seeds were leached for 6 to 30 h (Leaching). Following leaching, hydropriming for 3 to 18 h to standardize the priming duration. At the standardized priming duration, seeds were primed with hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, salicylic acid and 2,4-D (leaching + priming). Additionally, leached seeds were coated with polymer and plant growth-promoting microorganisms such as Azospirillum, Trichoderma viride and Bacillus subtilis (leaching + coating). Finally, the best-performing treatments from these experiments were compared with comprehensive technique. The results revealed that coumarin was the primary inhibitor. Leaching (24 h) significantly improved germination by 25.8 % over control. The duration of priming was standardized to 6 h after leaching. Leaching (24 h) + priming with 25 mM H2O2 (6 h) significantly increases germination percentage by 30.7 % over control. Leaching (24 h) + coating with polymer and Azospirillum at 100 g/kg of seeds significantly increased germination by 32.8 % over control. Assessment of the comprehensive techniques revealed that seed leaching (24 h) + priming with 25 mM H2O2 (6 h) + coating with polymer and Azospirillum at 100 g/kg significantly increased the germination percentage by 39 % over control. Results show that a comprehensive technique breaks dormancy and improves germination and seedling growth

The Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist E159 Reverses Memory Deficits Induced by Dizocilpine in Passive Avoidance and Novel Object Recognition Paradigm in Rats

The involvement of histamine H3 receptors (H3Rs) in memory is well known, and the potential of H3R antagonists in therapeutic management of neuropsychiatric diseases, e.g., Alzheimer disease (AD) is well established. Therefore, the effects of histamine H3 receptor (H3R) antagonist E159 (2.5–10 mg/kg, i.p.) in adult male rats on dizocilpine (DIZ)-induced memory deficits were studied in passive avoidance paradigm (PAP) and in novel object recognition (NOR) using pitolisant (PIT) and donepezil (DOZ) as standard drugs. Upon acute systemic pretreatment of E159 at three different doses, namely 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i.p., 2.5 and 5 but not 10 mg/kg of E159 counteracted the DIZ (0.1 mg)-induced memory deficits, and this E159 (2.5 mg)-elicited memory-improving effects in DIZ-induced amnesic model were moderately abrogated after acute systemic administration of scopolamine (SCO), H2R antagonist zolantidine (ZOL), but not with H1R antagonist pyrilamine to the animals. Moreover, the observed memory-enhancing effects of E159 (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) were strongly abrogated when animals were administered with a combination of SCO and ZOL. Furthermore, the E159 (2.5 mg)-provided significant memory-improving effect of in DIZ-induced short-term memory (STM) impairment in NOR was comparable to the DOZ-provided memory-enhancing effect, and was abolished when animals were injected with the CNS-penetrant histamine H3R agonist R-(α)-methylhistamine (RAMH). However, E159 at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg failed to exhibit procognitive effect on DIZ-induced long-term memory (LTM) in NOR. Furthermore, the results observed revealed that E159 (2.5 mg/kg) did not alter anxiety levels and locomotor activity of animals naive to elevated-plus maze (EPM), demonstrating that improved performances with E159 (2.5 mg/kg) in PAP or NOR are unrelated to changes in emotional responding or in spontaneous locomotor activity. These results provide evidence for the potential of drugs targeting H3Rs for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, e.g., AD